Dahlin puts up two points, Buffalo Sabres rattle out 3-2 win over Vancouver Canucks

By Canadian Press on December 11, 2025.

VANCOUVER — Rasmus Dahlin scored and notched an assist, and his Buffalo Sabres topped the struggling Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Thursday.

Tage Thompson also had a goal and a helper for the Sabres (13-14-4), and Zach Benson scored his first of the season to round out the scoring.

Alex Lyon stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced as Buffalo won its second straight game.

The Canucks (11-17-3) got goals from Kiefer Sherwood and Max Sasson, but couldn’t hold on to a 2-1 lead in the second period.

Thatcher Demko made 12 saves for Vancouver in his return from a lower-body injury he suffered on Nov. 11.

The Canucks were without star centre Elias Pettersson, who missed a second straight game with an upper-body injury.

Takeaways

Canucks: Sasson gave the home side a 2-1 lead 6:15 into the second, but Buffalo levelled the score, then pulled ahead. Third-period comebacks have been hard to come by for Vancouver this season, with the team going 1-13-0 when they trail heading into the final frame.

Sabres: Were missing offensive powerhouse Alex Tuch due to illness. The right-winger was tied with Thompson for the team lead in points (26) heading into the game. Trevor Kuntar slotted into the lineup, making his NHL debut one day after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Buffalo.

Key moment

Stationed above the hash marks, Benson blasted a shot in past Demko to give the Sabres a 3-2 lead with a power-play goal 14:46 into the second.

Key stat

Sherwood scored 19:49 into the opening frame to snap a 10-game goal drought. The bruising winger leads the Canucks in scoring with 13 goals on the season.

Up next

Canucks: Kick off a five-game road swing Sunday against the New Jersey Devils.

Sabres: Visit the Kraken in Seattle on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2025.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press